Sea Isle 1 - Turf Grass

Scientific name: Paspalum vaginatum.

Other names: Species common names: Seashore paspalum, salt water couch.

Cultivar name: Sea Isle 1.

Characteristics: Seashore Paspalum is the premier grass for badly salt-affected sites where other turfgrasses struggle to survive or die. It will grow across a wide range of soil pH from very acid to alkaline. Like the couches, it is a medium-textured turf best suited to short mowing heights (around 15-30 mm). Seashore paspalum has good drought and wear tolerance, and is more shade tolerant than the couches. It survives at low fertility, but responds well to added fertiliser with nitrogen in the nitrate form.

Origin: Selected in Georgia (the United States) from a segregating seed collection of unknown parentage from Argentina by Dr Ronny R Duncan, University of Georgia.

Global growing areas: US, Australia and the Pacific, Africa, Asia, Middle East, South America and the Caribbean.

One head licensee in Australia, with additional sub-licensees.

IP protection: US PP 12,665. Australian PBR certificate #2393 (granted 25 February 2004).

Details

• Texture: Fine.
• Description: Dark green leaves with a shiny lustre due to a waxy leaf coating. Fine leaves, blades 4.5-6.0 mm long, 2.25 mm in mean width, tapering to a narrow point. Internodes on stolons are 9-14 mm. Stolon nodes have hairs (data from Plant Patent description).
• Use: Lawns, parks, sportsfields and golf courses on salt-affected soils. Revegetation of salt-affected sites.
• Mowing height; Best at 15-20 mm.
• Method of propagation: Vegetative sod, sprigging.
• Preferred soil types: Grows in a wide range of soils from sands through to clays, and from pH 4.0 to 10.0.

Comments

Spreads vigorously by both rhizomes and stolons. Tolerates water logging and occasional flooding with salt water. Fewer seed heads than older cultivars Adalayd and Saltene. Requires lower fertiliser inputs than Cynodon dactylon (green couch). Copes with lowered light intensity due to cloud cover.

Tolerances

• Heat: Good.
• Cold: Comparable to green couch.
• Shade: Limited tolerance of shade (comparable to green couch). Does not tolerate tree shade.
• Drought: Fair tolerance of dry conditions
• Salinity: Highly salt tolerant. Survives at 40 dS m-1
• Wear: Tolerant of wear
• Herbicide sensitivity: Sensitive to many of the herbicides used for the management of green couch. Use only registered herbicides in accordance with the label.
• Pests and diseases: Lawn grubs (army worm, sod webworm) particularly during summer and autumn. Shows resistance to dollar spot.

Photos used on this page are not necessarily photos from DEEDI

For more information and updates on warm season turfgrasses, their production and management please go to http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/turf

For updates on Sea Isle 1 please go tohttp://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/26_4202.htm